Did you get dizzy attempting to comply with together with the Jets’ draft class?
Don’t fear. We did too.
Basic supervisor Joe Douglas traded down 4 instances — as soon as within the first spherical and thrice within the fourth spherical. He traded up within the second spherical.
Douglas traded away beginning defensive finish John Franklin-Myers in a wage dump necessitated after buying Haason Reddick in a current commerce with the Eagles. And he added a third-round choose in 2025.
All of these strikes got here after a handful of others lengthy earlier than this weekend, which included 2024 draft picks coming and going.
So, what was the tip consequence?
Listed here are The Publish’s pick-by-pick grades for the Jets’ draft class:
Spherical 1, No. 11 total: Olu Fashanu (OT, Penn State) (A-)
The query getting into the draft was whether or not to prioritize a weapon for Aaron Rodgers or safety for Aaron Rodgers?
The Jets accurately learn the depth of receivers within the class and went first with a 312-pounder who allowed one sack in 29 profession faculty video games.
Fashanu won’t begin instantly like tight finish Brock Bowers would have, however he’s a long-term reply, with neither left deal with Tyron Smith nor proper deal with Morgan Moses signed past 2024. Contemplating Smith hasn’t performed a full season since 2015 and Moses is coming off knee surgical procedure, Fashanu could be wanted before later.
One downside is that Fashanu primarily is a left deal with. He might want to be taught the appropriate facet as a rookie to develop into a real swing deal with — and possibly supplant Moses by midseason.
Spherical 3, No. 65 total: Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky) (A-)
Nicknamed the “YAC King,” Corley is thought for turning brief catches into massive features. He owns the college report with 259 profession receptions and scored 22 touchdowns over the previous two seasons.
The Jets needed him so badly that they reportedly reached out to a number of groups attempting to commerce again into the second spherical after giving up their choose in final 12 months’s deal to accumulate Rodgers. No exhales till the Panthers agreed to commerce down atop the third spherical.
The 5-foot-10, 207-pounder attracts comparisons to Deebo Samuel as a result of he’s robust to deal with and can take handoffs in movement. However his common depth of goal is simply 6.3 yards, which raises questions on whether or not he can run the total route tree.
Rodgers may get Corley concerned the identical method he did a younger Randall Cobb in Inexperienced Bay — who later grew to become considered one of his favourite targets.
Spherical 4, No. 134 total: Braelon Allen (RB, Wisconsin) (B-)
Nicely, that was a protracted 68-pick hole. Can Allen be the ability in a “Thunder and Lightning” mixture?
Breece Corridor is an unquestioned three-down again, however the 235-pound Allen may soak up a few of the massive hits on third- or fourth-and-short, and steal some short-yardage touchdowns. He rushed for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns in 35 profession video games.
Comply with The Publish’s protection of the 2024 NFL Draft
Allen, who will likely be 20 years previous at some point of his rookie season, was the youngest participant within the draft, so there must be loads of tread left on his tires. He initiates contact, together with as an above-average pass-protector.
Spherical 5, No. 171 total: Jordan Travis (QB, Florida State) (B)
The place would Travis have been drafted if he didn’t endure a grotesque damaged leg final November? May he have led undefeated Florida State to the nationwide championship?
As is, this state of affairs is ideal for Travis to take his time getting again to full energy. He can be taught from Rodgers and among the finest backup quarterbacks — and younger quarterback mentors — of the previous decade in Tyrod Taylor.
Travis threw 44 touchdowns and 7 interceptions over his ultimate two seasons. He can escape a crowded pocket however wants to indicate higher ball safety when scrambling.
Spherical 5, No. 173 total: Isaiah Davis (RB, South Dakota State) (C-)
It’s official: Douglas loves drafting working backs. This choose is a bit too repetitive and a little bit of a attain.
Davis is the sixth working again drafted by Douglas in 5 courses. The issue is that philosophy retains squeezing out previous draft picks, prefer it did to Michael Carter final season and may now do the identical to Israel Abanikanda, who struggled to get on the sphere as a rookie final season.
A former zero-star recruit, Davis rushed for 4,548 yards and 50 touchdowns. Half of his 24 profession 100-yard dashing video games got here within the FCS playoffs, which suggests he acquired stronger because the season progressed. He’s not a lot of a pass-catching risk on third downs.
Spherical 5, No. 177 total: Qwan’tez Stiggers (CB, CFL) (B-)
One strategy to the late rounds is to take low-risk/high-reward fliers. Stiggers suits the invoice after not enjoying faculty soccer. He involves the Jets after one season within the Canadian Soccer League, which he joined after impressing in the course of the Fan Managed Soccer league.
4 years after he gave up soccer to assist his household financially, Stiggers visited the Jets’ facility on a top-30 go to on his strategy to changing into a draft choose. He had 12 passes defended for the Toronto Argonauts, exhibiting good break on the ball.
His ticket to the sphere is special-teams tackling.
Spherical 7, No. 257 total: Jaylen Key (S, Alabama) (C)
Key’s growth accelerated over the previous two years. After making one begin in his first three years at UAB, he parlayed a superb 2022 season right into a no-guarantees alternative at Alabama, the place he grew to become a full-time starter. He performs bodily, whether or not defending tight ends or bringing the hit stick with particular groups.
Now he will get to benefit from the particular remedy reserved for the final choose of the draft, together with the “Mr. Irrelevant” parade at Disneyland.
Total draft class grade: B+
